United Way distributes nearly $29k in aid, grants

United Way of Monroe County recently awarded grants totaling almost $29,000 to eight social welfare agencies.\nProjects by these agencies will be funded through capacity-building grants, which are intended to improve an organization’s infrastructure.\nThe capacity-building grants, in addition to the agencies’ monthly fund allocations, will support initiatives seen as priorities by the United Way board, according to a news release from United Way of Monroe County.\nThe agencies are part of United Way’s 26 member sub organizations that work to ensure that Monroe County residents have food, housing, emergency services and health care, according to the county’s United Way’s Web site.\nBarry Lessow, executive director of United Way of Monroe County, said in a press release that funding will help the agencies “pursue their missions more effectively and comprehensively” and will go into specific criteria where it can be most utilized.\n“Sometimes it’s a matter of infrastructure; sometimes they need furnishing for the office or equipment,” Lessow said in the press release. “Sometimes it’s for administrative purposes, or it could be use to enhance a program that (the agencies) offer.”\nThe United Way awarded Stone Belt, a service provider for individuals with developmental disabilities and a United Way agency, a capacity-building grant worth $5,620 to purchase manufacturing equipment. \nLeslie Green, chief executive officer of Stone Belt, said that new equipment gave Stone Belt the opportunity to “marry” its Leather Works and Art and Craft Studio product lines. There will be more client-produced merchandise for sale such as mouse pads, coasters, ornaments, belts and more.\n“We’re buying two pieces of equipment that allows us to put art design on leather work,” Green said. “We produced a lot of items but couldn’t put designs on them. Now we have a ‘hot stamper’ machine to emboss the designs.” \nRhino’s Youth Center, an organization that facilitates youth programs, received $4,200 to improve its media programs.\nRhino’s Youth Center director Brad Wilhelm said in a news release that the grant will go toward upgrading rapidly aging technology and assisting volunteers in producing media and promotional materials.\nAnother agency receiving a United Way grant was Options, an organization that aids individuals with disabilities. Options received $2,500 to help in creating Karst Playscape. Executive director Susan Rinne said in a news release that Playscape will be a unique place where more than 70 children with disabilities and their families can have fun together.\nLessow said that United Way and its member agencies are dedicated to addressing these critical needs and reducing them in the future by making investments now.\n“We are like an umbrella organization that is involved in many different areas,” Lessow said. “But the idea is that if there is a story of need ... we want to be there to address these concerns.”